Crackdown 2

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 104 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Crackdown 2 Game Cover
Crackdown 2? More like Crackdown 1.3 - If you wanted more of the first game then look no further.
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"Crackdown 2" is a sandbox-style third-person shooter game with single-player, co-op, and multiplayer modes. Players assume the role of an Agent, an advanced officer with super-powered abilities, in a futuristic open world setting. The game builds upon its predecessor with enhanced mobility, expanded Agent abilities, and increased customization options. Vehicles can also be commandeered for transportation, adding another layer to gameplay.

  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews
story10 positive mentions
graphics5 negative mentions
  • Crackdown 2 offers a fun and immersive open-world experience with plenty of freedom to explore and complete objectives at your own pace.
  • The game features an engaging multiplayer mode that allows for chaotic fun with friends, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
  • The character progression system is rewarding, allowing players to level up their abilities and enjoy the satisfaction of becoming a more powerful agent.
  • The game suffers from repetitive missions and a lack of variety in objectives, leading to a monotonous gameplay experience over time.
  • Many players found the graphics to be underwhelming and not significantly improved from the first game, contributing to a sense of déjà vu.
  • The storyline is weak and often feels like an afterthought, with little depth or engagement compared to other games in the genre.
  • story67 mentions

    The story in the "Crackdown" series is generally considered weak and underdeveloped, with "Crackdown 2" featuring even less narrative depth than its predecessor. Players can piece together a minimal plot through hidden audio logs, but the focus remains on chaotic gameplay rather than storytelling, making it more of a sandbox experience. While the missions can become repetitive and lack variety, the immersive environment and action-oriented gameplay keep players engaged despite the lack of a compelling storyline.

    • “Let me explain... the story is that ten years have passed since the events of the first game, the original agency tower was bombed, a virus leaked out of one of the three gangs' labs, and infected parts of the population (cue 'freaks').”
    • “The story in this game seems to be more about the struggle between the agency and the people with the freaks in the middle.”
    • “I liked it so much that after the first few hours of playing it, I got hooked and played it to the end of the story... it got better and I think the main reason I stuck with it was because of the immersive environment, and the relentless enemies, they make you want to beat and shoot the crap out of them, and kill all of the leaders hiding in their heavily guarded buildings.”
    • “Crackdown 2 has even less plot than the first one, which is hard to do.”
    • “The 'cell insurgency' plot line is never developed; it's possible to piece together a narrative by collecting sound files lying here and there, but really there is no plot complexity; the cell are just guys you kill.”
    • “Nearly non-existent story.”
  • graphics19 mentions

    The graphics of Crackdown 2 have received mixed reviews, with many players describing them as subpar and nearly identical to the original game, which some find intentional and fitting for its style. While a few appreciate the cartoonish, comic book-like visuals, the overall consensus leans towards disappointment, citing blandness and a lack of innovation compared to modern standards. Ultimately, the graphics are seen as functional but not impressive, with players suggesting that the game's appeal lies more in its gameplay than its visual presentation.

    • “I enjoy the cartoony graphics; it resembles a bit of a comic book style and had short loading times.”
    • “The videos on YouTube are awesome, but playing it is even better. I love the graphics in the game; I love the colors of the suits. Everything about this game is just awesome.”
    • “The graphics are fine, nothing flashy.”
    • “The graphics look nearly identical to the original, which is intentional.”
    • “Horrible graphics, compared to where they are today.”
    • “The orbs are all in the same places, the city has the same architecture and layout, and the visuals are bland.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay in Crackdown 2 retains much of the core mechanics from the original, offering an action-packed experience that emphasizes freedom, despite a lack of depth in story and variety. While players can enjoy the familiar feel and fun zombie theme, many find the gameplay becomes monotonous over time due to its repetitive nature and issues with the targeting system. Overall, it delivers a solid, if not groundbreaking, gameplay experience.

    • “So Crackdown, in a nutshell, is ironically a gameplay experience that's all about freedom, despite the 'agency' your character works for trying to establish a totalitarian order of government.”
    • “The same core gameplay features are still there.”
    • “This game was very similar to the first Crackdown in terms of gameplay and overall feel.”
    • “Still a fun time, so long as you aren't looking for a story or deep game mechanics.”
    • “Much of the same game mechanics remained the same, although I don't remember the targeting system being quite so awful in the first installment.”
    • “So, after a while the gameplay got monotonous.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is criticized for being low, with many reviewers noting that it lacks the engaging elements that would encourage players to revisit the single-player experience. While some appreciate the fun and immersive environment, they feel that the repetitive gameplay and limited mission variety detract from long-term enjoyment. A few users mention that the game may appeal more to fans of the original, but overall, it fails to offer substantial replay value.

    • “This is a fun game with tons of replay value.”
    • “This game lacks heavily in replayability.”
    • “Pros: fun, immersive environment, easy to use controls, fair storyline, free-roam environment, lots of things to kill, and many ways to do so. Great for players of Crackdown 1, great graphics. Cons: low replay value, storyline mostly meant for Crackdown 1 players, not much variety in mission types, the introduction takes rather long.”
    • “I will not excuse the fact that they repeated the same mistake that they did with Crackdown 1: not give the single player any replay value whatsoever. In fact, Crackdown 1 has more replay value than this.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its quality, featuring impressive remixes of familiar tracks, such as "The Freaks Come Out at Night," which aligns well with the game's themes. Players appreciate the inclusion of boom boxes that enhance the atmosphere with call-to-arms addresses and diverse music, contributing to one of the best soundtracks in recent memory.

    • “The music is really good in the game with a lot of remixes of songs you've probably heard before, such as 'The Freaks Come Out at Night' by Whodini, which is appropriate because the main enemy is called the Freaks.”
    • “I like the boom boxes on the rooftops playing various call to arms addresses and music.”
    • “The soundtrack is one of the best I have heard in a long, long time.”
    • “Same old song and dance”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the entertaining voice work of NPCs, who react comically to their surroundings with amusing curses and distressed responses. The interactions, particularly from the armored characters and the cell, evoke laughter with their absurd and exaggerated reactions, reminiscent of the humor found in the Postal series. However, some players feel that the humor is less prominent in Crackdown 2, where it shifts towards a more serious tone.

    • “The NPCs and the cell have good voice work too, and you'll be laughing at the NPCs cursing about what's happening near them. They react in various levels of distress, and even the narrator swears, which is funny as well.”
    • “The cell has really funny responses to the situation and the threat level, with the armored guys in junk suit armor yelling muffled things from inside the suit like 'I felt that! It hurts!' and other muffled cries. It's really funny.”
    • “The cell on the ground and on buildings are funny too with their responses. They have really crazy voices that fit the situation, reminding me of the Postal enemies with their cries and taunts.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that both the original game and its sequel feature missions that are often repetitive and feel like grinding, lacking substantial plot development to engage them.

    • “The original was not heavy on plot, and, like this second game, a lot of the missions feel grinding and repetitive.”
    • “The grinding in this game is excessive, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really took away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the game may prioritize action over intricate plot or character development, it still provides an enjoyable experience. Players suggest that the lack of deep character arcs does not detract from the overall fun.

  • stability1 mentions

    The reviews do not provide specific insights into the stability of the game, focusing instead on the presence of various weaponry, such as gatling guns and rocket launchers, in vehicles. Therefore, no definitive conclusions about stability can be drawn from the provided text.

  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of vehicle sound effects is well-received, with users noting that the audio enhances the distinct performance characteristics of each vehicle.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy has been criticized for intrusive advertisements, particularly for Xbox Live, which detracts from the overall experience by integrating promotional elements directly into gameplay.

    • “The game incorporates advertisements for Xbox Live: ability orbs are scattered around with the word 'live' on them, and if you touch one, the director says 'you'll have to buddy up to get that orb!'.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by prompts to spend more money.”
    • “I feel like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience, with paywalls blocking content that should be accessible.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is noted to be lacking, as players find the story to be boring despite the gameplay being enjoyable. This disconnect suggests that while the mechanics may engage players, the narrative fails to evoke strong emotional responses.

    • “The game had potential, but the emotional depth was lacking.”
    • “I felt disconnected from the characters and their struggles.”
    • “The story tried to be emotional, but it fell flat and felt forced.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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